Weft feeler for looms



C. D. BROWN WEFT FEELER FOR LOOMS l s i! Patented Oct. 27, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CARL D. BROWN, OF HOPEIDALE, MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR T'O DRAPER COBPORA TION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF MAINE WEFT FEELER FOB LOOMS Application filed May 31,

The present invention relates to side slipping weft feelers for loomsand is more particularly an improvement upon the weft feeler disclosedin United States Letters Patent of Brown and Repass No. 1,593,426,

July 20, 1926.

The object of the present improvement is to insure the clinging of thefeeler to the weft until it is nearly exhausted and to prevent prematureside slipping especially in the event that the feeler tip encounters thetaperfitng or conically wound portion of the we The improvement isillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. l is a plan viewof so much of the feeler mechanism as is necessary for an understandingof the present invention, a portion of a bobbin and shuttle being alsoshown. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate dififerent modifications of thefeeler tip. Fig. 5, is an enlarged cross-section on the line 55, in Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings, A is the feeler stand and B the feeler shankwhich slides back and forth and slips sidewise when needful in themanner set forth in the aforesaid Brown and Repass patent. Fig. 1illustrates the feeler tip in contact with the tapering or conicalwinding 0 of the weft on a bobbin D within a shuttle E at the detectingside of the loom.

The feeler tip of the Brown and Repass patent is provided with teethformed by cutting and finishing the steed at the extreme rear face ofthe tip, as illustrated at F, in Fig. i. It sometimes occurs with thischaracter of feeler tip, especially in the case of a closely woundsmooth yarn such as rayon, that the feeler will slip sidewiseprematurely in the event that the feeler tiCp encounters the inclined orconical portion of the weft thus resulting in a change of bobbins withconsequent waste because of the substantial amount of yarn still left onthe discharged bobbin. This is particularly true in case the slope ofthe weft encounters the rounded corner or heel G of the feeler tipinstead of the teeth F.

Also, the sharp steel teeth F of the feeler may bruise the yarn and, inthe event that 1929. Serial No. 367,470.

the yarn is smooth and glo-ssly like rayon, alter the appearance of thecloth.

The present improvement cures these defects .and it consists in the newfeeler tip illustrated in the drawings. As in the Brown and Repasspatent the feeler shank B at its rear is bent into the form of a loopwith side legs H and I and laterally extending foot or connecting bar J.In accordance with the present invention the legs and heel bar of theloop are loosely encircled by a helically coiled resilient wire K whichis long enough to embrace the entire loop being maintained in positionbecause the ends of the spring bear against the closed outer end of theloop where the legs 'H and I meet.

This coiled wire K constitutes the contacting tip of the feeler and itsconvolutions at their rear portions alone come in contact with the weft.This is equally true in the event that the feeler tip encounters theslanting [surface C of the weft because the coils of the wire surroundall portions of the feeler loop which are ever presented to the weft,including the rounded heel G. In other words, the coiled wire extends ina curve in excess of ninety degrees forwardly beyond the reach of theslanting weft threads.

The wire coils loosely encircle the feeler loop as indicated in Fig. 5,so that each convolution of the wire is free to yield both laterally andforwardly under the impact of the weft to a sufficient extent to enablethem to accommodate themselves to the yarn windingsthereby engaging themadequately to prevent premature slippage and to avoid bruising ordamaging the yarn.

Also, it will be noted from the drawings, that every one of theconvolutions of the wire embraces a portion of the feeler loop so Fig. 3illustrates a fine gau e wire, While Fig 1 illustrates a Wire 0intermediate gauge. This difference in gauge is indicated by the varyingnumber of coils of the wire in 5 each tip rather than by the diametersof the a different Wires whichare so small as to make it difficult toshow proportionate diameters while retaining the appropriate numbers ofcoils.

10 Fig. 4 illustrates the wire coil applied'to'a feeler having cut teethF. WVith this organization the wire'can be removed at-themill in theevent, that the particular conditions of themill make the cut teethpereferable.

15 Also, in the event thatrthe Wire wears out the ,feeler is stillusable" i 1 i I a It is convenientztol.applyxthe wirecoilito the feel'erbefore the loopjis completely closed.

Iclaimz r i 1 1.1. Aside slipping weft feeler looped at its rear end andhaving a coiled resilient wire I surrounding'all portions ofithe loopwhich are presented to the i weft, each convolution of the wire'ibeingcapable ofindependently yielding sidewise and'frontwardly underthe impact of the weft andthe forward yielding being limited by'theloop.

7 2. .A side slipping'weft feelerlooped at'its rearend'and having acoiledresilientwire 3. surrounding'all portions of the loop which arepresented to the Weft, each convolution of the .wire being capable ofindependently yielding sidewise and frontwardly underthe impact .of theweft;

@i 3. Aside slipping weft feeler having a lat- I erally extending. footand a forwardly 'GX- tending heel incombination with a coiledresilient'wire tip loosely surrounding all porp tionsiofithe foot andheelwhich arezever 4 presented tothe weft, each convolution of the .wirebeing capableof independently yieldring sidewise and frontwardly'underthe impact of theweft and the forward yielding being limited by the footand heel. a

i 14 7 4. Aside slipping weft feeler having a laterally extending footand a forwardly extending heel in combination with a coiled :resilientwire tip surrounding all portions of the foot andheel' which are everpresented a to the weft' each convolution of the wirebe- V V .ringcapable of independently yielding sidea a wis and frontwardly underitheimpact of the .we q 5. A side slipping weftfeeler havin a lat- 5 erallyextending foot and a forwar ly extending'heel in combination witha'coiled resilient wire tip surrounding all portions of the footand'heelwhich are everpresented t0 theweft. y

A 15 In witness whereof, I havehereunto signed 7 my name. 7

; "CARL D. BROWN

